Interpretation Definition and 835 Threads

Given \triangle u = f(x,y,z) on a given body with vanishing neumann boundary conditions. I'm asked to interpret it in terms of heat and diffusion. Since heat/diffusion take the form u_t = k \triangle u, I am a little confused as I there is no time term here. I think the answer is that u...

Is there an interpretation of quantum mechanics, which could make a difference to future calculations and results? Maybe an interpretation which could rewrite and simplify the algebra? Or one which has new testible results which when correct would change the quantum mechanical equations to make...

Hi all, I'm trying to understand exactly what the physical meaning of conductivity/current is in relation to waves. if we have a wave traveling through a conductor, we find that it decays exponentially, i.e. e^{-\alpha z} where \alpha=imag(k)=\omega\sqrt{\frac{\epsilon\mu}{2}}...

Edward Nelson, a Princeton mathematician showed that quantum mechanics could be derived from the principle that elementary particles are subjected to a universal jiggling of an unspecified cause. As I understand the obstacle to use this mathematical model as a physical one, is that dynamics of...

I recently read an article entitled, "The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: Many Worlds or Many Words?" authored by Max Tegmark and it raised many questions on the matter as well as curiosity. In the article, Tegmark provides two tenable but diametrically opposite paradigms regarding physical...

Hello, I am a Bio informatician and encountered Likelihood while executing the Molecular data. I have used one software that is using the Hidden Markov Model in addition to the EM Algorithm and Viterbi algorithm. After calculations are done already, in addition to the output, it is giving me...

With Hobson's notation: H=(da/dt)/a dH/dt = ((d2a/dt2)/a) - ((da/dt)/a)2 If ((d2a/dt2)/a) is negative, (dH/dt) is certainly negative. But if ((d2a/dt2)/a) is positive, (dH/dt) can be positive or negative. What is your interpretation?

Hi all, I feel like there's a missing link in my understanding of brownian motion. I'm comfortable with the "method of http://fraden.brandeis.edu/courses/phys39/simulations/Uhlenbeck%20Brownian%20Motion%20Rev%20Mod%20Phys%201945.pdf" where the signal is written as a Fourier series, and with...

Homework Statement x,y, z are vectors in R^n. We have the equation: ax +by +cz, where a,b,c are constants such that a+b+c=1, and a,b,c>=0 What is the geometric interpretation of the equation? Homework Equations sv + tu, where u,v are vectors in R^n and s,t are constants such that...

The trade off in uncertainty in momentum vs position in the HUP leaves me confused. In the context where the momentum is measured to increasingly greater precision and consequently position becomes less refined, is any logical inference made about the existence of the object i.e. is it...

dear expert, please guide me in interpretation of asme sec viii div 1 interpretation...the basic terms used as uw,ucs etc..what does these abbrevate..same like basic nomenclature used in this code.. regards, bali

I understand the basics of the mathematical descriptions of systems in superposition. But what I'm not clear about is whether such a system is actually in more than one state at the same time. Is this a matter of QM interpretation or is it simply moot b/c we can make no measurements that can...

Sorry for the confusing title! I have a question that I cannot wrap my mind around... Suppose the universe attains its state of maximum entopy (assuming maximum here also involves quantum effects such that in the end even the atoms disintegrate into photons and leptons). I understand that in...

Hi, I'm looking for a book that presents a pragmatic interpretation of QM that'd be appropriate for someone who's taken one semester of it.

Hello. This is my interpretation of what is currently known in cosmology, as regards the low entropy state of the early universe. If it is a poor interpretation, then I apologise, but in all fairness, I can only blame the industry professionals for not explaining the data clearly enough. I am...

Hi Guys I have recently been reacquainting myself with Ballantines - Quantum Mechanics - A Modern Development. He is pretty big on the Ensemble interpretation, and I must admit I am rather attracted to it as well - none of this collapse of a wave function stuff, many worlds etc. He also makes...

Resolve f(t) in terms of step,impulse and ramp functions.

I've watched the Susskind lectures on QM and Quantum Entanglements. Susskind seems to avoid many of the interpretation issues inherent in QM. For example, he never talks about the wave function collapsing due to the involvement of "conscious mind". He does show, mathematically, that wave...

I am starting to become confused when reading about quantum mechanics and its treatment of photons. I heard somewhere (I can't recall where) that the characteristic intensity of a photon beam was give by I = E/\omega, where \omega is the angular frequency of the beam. However, I can't seem to...

The De Broglie's wavelength is given by λ = h / mv h = 6.626 x 10^(-34) Js Now, if a macro-object of 6.626 kg is moving at a speed of 10^(-34) m/s then its De Broglie's wavelength comes out to be 1 meter (metre). What does it mean to have 1 meter wavelength for that object? If another object...

Can all formulas be thought of intuitively/physically? For example, average speed is change in distance over change in time, that is intuitive and can easily be derived But when you have something like v^2 = u^2 + 2ax, or e=mc^2, how do you think of it intuitively? Specifically the squared...

Hi, All: Just curious to know if there is an interpretation for lower cohomology that is as "nice", as that of the lower fundamental groups, i.e., Pi_0(X) =0 if X is path-connected (continuous maps from S^0:={-1,1} into a space X are constant), and Pi_1(X)=0 if X is...

Several sources states that the graph of electroluminescence carries with it some characteristics of the material that emit the radiation. How can we interpret the graph so as to extract those characteristics? Please help me on this.

Where I can read about Bohmian interpretation of QM? I need a good , solid book.

Hello, While the majority of physicists embrace the Many Worlds interpretation of quantum decoherence, I am holding out hope for the Copenhagen interpretation or better yet, a undiscovered interpretation. Please allow me to pose three problems I have with the MW interpretation. 1) There...

I am interested in peoples opinion on the following papers, hep-th/0307026 Inflation and de Sitter holography hep-th/0402050 Holography, diffeomorphisms, and scaling violations in the CMB Larson and McNees motivated from Maldecena's ADS/CFT analyze Inflation using the Spectulated...

What is a good book that I could read about Many-worlds interpretation and what Hugh Everett was thinking.

To my understanding you can believe in the multiverse theory without subscribing to many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. But can you subscribe to the many-worlds interpretation while also believing there is only this one universe (and that it just has hidden dimensions). Can...

Hello. In a software application I am attempting to smooth a data set by convoluting it with a discrete Gaussian kernel. Based upon information garnered online, I've been using this Mathematica command to generate the kernel: kern = Table[Exp[-k^2/100]/Sqrt[2. Pi], {k, -range, range}]; where...

Why are the Time Symmetric Interpretation rarely if ever brought up in discussions here? It restores determinism and realism. This article explains the jist of the interpretation and experimental evidence...

I am analyzing the lengthwise temperature distribution in a cooling fin (length: 30mm, width: 10mm, the tip is assumed to be adiabatic, Biot number is smaller than 0.1). When I try to calculate the dimensionless temperature distribution (see calculation below), I obtain a curve which has a...

"physical" interpretation of the Laplace operator Is there a "physical" interpretation of the Laplace operator, much like there exists a physical interpretation of the divergence and curl?

physical interpretation of the "rotation" of a ket Homework Statement No problem statement. I'm just having trouble imagining what it means to "rotate" a quantum -ket, especially since not all -kets are eigenstates of position. I know what the rotation operator is. I also can picture...

Hi all. Here is an n-particle hamltonian. H=\int d^{3}xa^{\dagger}(x)\Bigl(-\frac{\hbar^{2}}{2m}\nabla^{2}+U(x)\Bigr)a(x)+\int d^{3}xd^{3}yV(x-y)a^{\dagger}(x)a^{\dagger}(y)a(x)a(y) Here is an n-particle state. \Bigr|\psi,t\Bigl\rangle=\int...

Hello Forum, I've been reading about MWI, the Bohm interpretation, and Feynman QED. Combining elements from these interpretations, I've been building up my own simple mental model of 'how to picture the state of affairs', and I've been speculating about the feasibility of interpretations...

Hello! If one uses the Lindhard formula to calculate the static polarizability of an electron gas, \chi(q), you get a function which is pretty much a constant until q=2k_F with k_F being the Fermi wave vector. After this it decays(it's on page 335 of Ashcroft and Mermin). But what is the...

In "Does the inertia of a body depend upon its energy content?," http://fourmilab.ch/etexts/einstein/E_mc2/www/ , Einstein says: My interpretation of this is that these energies contain both potential and kinetic terms. A potential energy U is only defined up to an additive constant. If, for...

When dealing with the Euler-Lagrange equation in a physical setting, one usually uses the Hamiltonian L=T-V as the value to be extremized. What is the physical interpretation of the extremizing of this value?

This is not my theory, or even new, rather pertaining to established physical knowledge, but I simply find it fascinating. It pertains to several areas of physics, and/or variational mathematics, so I've posted it here in the General Physics area. My reasons for posting is because it is one...

　 We know Copenhagen settles for computational rules connecting human observations rather than striving to comprehend the nature of the underlying reality. Heisenberg eventually did try to form a coherence picture of what is actually happening. But how come this Heisenberg Interpretation is not...

I was reading Tom Apostol's expostion of Euler's Summation Formula ( http://www.jstor.org/pss/2589145) and it occurred to me that it would be convenient to visualize \int_a^b x f'(x) geometrically. In that article, it arises from integration by parts: \int_a^b f(x) dx = |_a^b x f(x)...

This is a continuation of discussions from another thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=490677&page=2 I believe it deserves its own thread instead of hijacking the other one. "Ref 3" in what follows is this paper: L.E. Ballentine, "The Statistical Interpretation of...

I just start to study quantum mechanics and i don't understand why square of wave function is probability density function. I think the reason of taking square of wave function is because we should eliminate complex compounds of wave function to get a real magnitute. But after why don't we take...

For those of us trapped in a corner with difficult choices of whether to believe many worlds are splitted off billions of times every second or whether there is Godlike power to collapse the wave function in the universe or whether waves can travel forward or backward in time (Transactional) or...

My question: 1) In diagram (b), is there a reason why Vo is to the left of 15 ohm resistor and not to the right? (which wouldn't produce the same answer) cf. diagram (a) It might be a minor point but I'd like to know the specific reason Thanks

I think it's time for the annual quantum interpretation poll. Vote for which interpretation you currently think represents reality.

Hello everyone, :wink: Have a see on this link:- http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7236/vinvout.jpg Diagram #1 is what I found in a book. I couldn't understand how this circuit will be transformed into practical form. Therefore, in Diagram #2 I have my interpretation presented. Is it any...

My friend asked me what does a 540 MW power plant mean and how to interpret, I said it can lift a 1 Kilo Ton object to a height of 1 KM in about 3 Mins. My calculation is based on the equation of potential energy to the time taken by the power plant to produce that energy. Is this the...

Dear friends of physics forum I have calculated the phonon dispersion of an fcc phase using PHONON software. the fcc phase I am talking about is a metastable phase of Zr. Zr, as we all know exists in hcp and bcc phases. I wanted to calculate the heat capacity at constant volume using the...

When you solve the motion equation x=x_0 +v_0t +\frac{1}{2}at^2 you get two answers for t. One being a negative due to the quadratic. What is the physical interpretation of this? Its driving me nuts.